Curtain rod



L. D. FORD ET AL CURTAIN ROD Original Filed Jan. 10, 1946 f/QZ #7 S W mMW a m w um W. Q m A Y B Patented July 17, 1951 UNITED STATES ATENTOFFICE CURTAIN ROD Ledger D. Ford and Frederick L. Stutz, Sturgis,Mich., assignors to Kirsch Company, Sturgis, Mich., a corporation ofMichigan 11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in curtain rods. This applicationis a division of our application for Letters Patent filed January 10,1946, Serial No. 640.306, which has become U. S. Patent #2,494,697.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a bracket and a coacting combined bracket engaging rodtip and threading pilot which facilitates the threading of the rod intoa curtain and the mounting thereof on the bracket.

Second, to provide a curtain rod and bracket assembly which is welladapted for the support of curtains at the upper and lower ends thereofand without subjecting the curtain to stretching stresses.

Third, to provide a curtain rod structure having these advantages whichis very easily manipulated in the assembling of the combined rod tip andpilot member with supporting brackets.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appearfrom the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed outin the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a door having a glazedopening therein provided with the curtain rods embodying our invention,various parts being shown conventionally.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in longitudinal sectionon a line corresponding to line 22 of Fig. 1, the curtain being omitted.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view with thecurtain rod partially broken away and partially in longitudinal section.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the bracket.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the combined bracket engaging rod tipand threading pilot element.

In the accompanying drawing I represents a door having a glass panel 2.3 represents a curtain. The embodiment of our invention illustratedcomprisees a curtain rod 4 of oval or noncircular section which maydesirably have telescoping sections 5 and 6. The combined bracketengaging tip and threading pilot 1 comprises a convex head 8 desirablyof a peripheral shape corresponding substantially to the cross sectionalshape or dimensions of the rod; that is, when the rod is of oval sectionthe head is correspondingly of oval section.

The rod tip member has neck portions 9-9 extending from opposite edgesthereof, these neck portions being of a width less than the diameter ofthe head and merging into the convex face of the head. The neck membershave integral spring arms [0 extending from their inner ends. These armsare of convex curved section frictionally fitting within the rod; thatis, they are in frictional retaining engagement with the rod. The armsare inwardly offset at I l relative to the neck members, as is clearlyillustrated, providing inwardly facing shoulders which abut the ends ofthe rod and thereby insure the proper positioning of the bracketengaging rod tip member relative to the rod.

Further, this inward offsetting of the rod engaging parts l0 provides aneffective guard for the ends of the rod so that the rod may be threadedthrough suitable pockets provided therefor in the curtain withoutengaging the fabric. The rod tip member is adapted for engagement withthe supporting bracket designated generally by the numeral l2 andcomprising the base l3 adapted to receive attaching screws l4 and theforwardly projecting arm 15 having a longitudinal slot [6 therein openat its outer end to receive the neck members 9 when they are presentedsidewise thereto.

The width of the neck members is such that their edges slidably engagethe edges of the slot I 6 and the neck members being spaced effectivelyprevent turning or rotation of the rod relative to the bracket. Theinwardly facing portion [1 of the head engages the outer side of thebracket. The bracket is provided with a springable finger or tongue l8which is outwardly offset from the bottom edge of the slot andspringably engages the head of the rod tip member when the parts are inassembled relation as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This permits the readyengagement of the rod tip members with the brackets merely by presentingthe neck members sidewise thereto and forcing into the slots against thethrust of the spring fingers l8.

It is quite common practice to provide windows with curtains supportedby rods at the top and bottom. This invention permits the support of thecurtains at the top and bottom without placing the curtains understretching stress as is quite commonly required in installations of thischaracter. Further, exact mounting of the brackets is not required foreach curtain, the brackets may be mounted at the upper and lower ends ofthe window, the curtain prepared to receive the rods, the rod threadedinto the upper and lower pockets of the curtain, and the rod assembledwith the bracket merely by pushing their tip members rearwardly into thebracket slots. They can be easily disassembled by an outward pullthereon as the occasion requires for laundering or replacing of thecurtain. The rod tip members may be easily and quickly assembled withrods without the aid of screws or other fastenings. When used with rodsmade up of telescoped sections, the rod sections are effectively held intheir proper extended relation.

We have illustrated and described our invention in a highly practicalcommercial embodiment thereof. We have not attempted to illustrate ordescribe other adaptations or modifications which we contemplate as itis believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art toenbody or adapt our invention as may be de sire Having thus describedour invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by LettersPatent is:

l. The combination with a bracket provided with an arm having alongitudinal slot therein and a spring finger struck therefrom anddisposed in opposed relation to the slot, of a tubular curtain rod, abracket engaging rod tip having a convex threading pilot head, neckmembers extending from opposite edges of the head, the width of the neckmembers being less than the diameter of the head, the ne members havingintegral springable arms extending therefrom frictionally engaged withinthe rod, the neck members being disposed sidewise within the slot of thebracket in supporting engagement therewith, the spring finger springablyengaging the convex head of the bracket.

2. The combination with a bracket provided with an arm having a slottherein, of a tubular curtain rod, a bracket engaging rod tip having athreading pilot head, neck members extending from opposite edges of thehead, the width of the neck members being less than the diameter of thehead, the neck members having integral springable arms extendingtherefrom frictionally engaged within the rod, the neck members beingdisposed sidewise within the slot of the bracket in supported engagementtherewith.

3. The combination with a bracket comprising an attaching base portionand an arm projecting forwardly therefrom, the arm having a longitudinalslot therein opening at its outer end, there being a springable fingerprojecting forwardly from the bottom of the slot, of a tubular curtainrod, a'ebracket engaging rod tip comprising a threading pilot head, neckmembers extending from opposite edges of the head, the width of the neckmembers being less than the diameter of the head, the neck membershaving integral spring arms extending therefrom engaged within the rod,the neck members being disposed sidewise within the slot of the bracketin supported engagement therewith with the spring finger springablyengaging the head of the tip.

4. The combination with a bracket comprising an attaching base portionand an arm projecting forwardly therefrom, the arm having a longitudinalslot therein opening at its outer end, of a tubular curtain rod, abracket engaging rod tip comprising a threading pilot head, neck membersextending from opposite edges of the head, the width of the neck membersbeing less than the diameter of the head, the neck members havinintegral spring arms extending therefrom engaged within the rod, theneck members being disposed sidewise within the slot of the bracket insupported engagement therewith.

5. The combination of a bracket provided with an arm having a forwardlyfacing slot therein and a forwardly projecting springable fingerlaterally offset in relation to said arm and extending from the bottomof the slot, a curtain rod, and a bracket engaging rod tip comprising ahead and neck members engageable within the slot when presented edgewisethereto and of a less width than the width of the head, the neck membershaving springable rod engaging extensions, the said springable fingerspringably engaging the head of the rod tip when the neck members areinserted in the slots with the head in side thrust engagement with theouter side of the bracket.

6. The combination with a bracket provided with a forwardly projectingarm having a slot therein opening at its outer end, of a tubular curtainrod, and bracket engaging rod tip having a threading pilot head, neckmembers extending from the opposite edges of the head and havingintegral springable arms extending therefrom frictionally engageablewithin the rod, the neck members being disposed sidewise within the slotof the bracket in supported engagement therewith, the bracket beingprovided with a spring finger in retaining engagement with the head.

7. The combination with a bracket provided with an arm having an openslot therein and a spring finger opposed to the slot, of a tubularcurtain rod, and a bracket engaging rod tip having a threading pilothead, neck members extending from the opposite edges of the head andhaving integral springablearms extending therefrom engageable within therod, the neck members being disposed sidewise within the slot of thebracket in supported engagement therewith with the spring fingerengaging the head.

8. The combination of a bracket provided with an arm havin an open endedslot therein and a laterally and forwardly projecting springable fingerextending from the bottom of the slot, a curtain rod, and a bracketengaging rod tip comprising a head, and neck members engageable withsaid slot when presented sidewise thereto with the spring finger inretaining springable engagement with the head of the tip, said neckmembers being of less width than the diameter of the head, the neckmembers having extensions frictionally engaged with the inside of therod.

9. The combination of a bracket provided with an arm having an openended slot therein and a spring finger opposed to the slot, a curtainrod, and a bracket engaging rod tip comprising a head, and neck membersengageable with said slot when presented sidewise thereto with thespring finger springably engaging the head, said neck members being ofless width than the diameter of the head, the neck members havingextensions frictionally engaged with the inside of the rod.

10. The combination of a bracket having an open slot therein and aspring finger opposed to the slot, a tubular curtain rod, and a bracketengaging rod tip comprising a head, neck members extending from oppositeedges of the head and having integral springable arms extendingtherefrom frictionally engaged with the inside of the rod, the neckmembers being disposed sidewise within the slot of thebracket and insupported engagement therewith, with the spring finger retaininglyengaging the head of the rod tip.

11. The combination of a bracket havin an open ended slot therein, and aspring finger opposed to the slot, a tubular curtain rod, and a bracketengaging rod tip comprising a head, neck membars extending from oppositeedges of the head and having integral springable arms extendingtherefrom frictionally engageable with the inside of the rod, the neckmembers being disposed sidewise within the slot of the bracket and insupported engagement therewith with the spring finger springablyengaging the head.

LEDGER D. FORD.

FREDERICK L. STU'IZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Lathrop Sept. 7, 1909 Number Number

